Calliope enters the town gates, carrying a large heavy sack. Is shocked that there are so many people gathered around the Wise Staff Shop. She knows full well that there must have been another robbery.

She continues to walk as rapidly as she can, but it is difficult because her sack is so heavy.

She kicks open the door to the Inn, enters the kitchen and drops the sack on the floor.

"Good Morning Boromir, Look what I have for you!" She catches her breath and starts to jump up and down and no matter how hard she tries, she still remains 3ft tall.

"I have to say this one put up quite a fight. If it was any bigger, I would have had to gut him from the shell myself" She pulls the sack open and and asks Boromir to take the turtle.

Boromir smiles as he pats lightly on the Calliope's back showing much appreciaten. "Wow that is a big one. Let us get started in cooking up a great soup shall we,"Boromir says as he walks with the sack into the kitchen.

*Alatariel enters the room from upstairs*


Wow what went on here last night?

*looks at the bulletin*

great another robbery. I hope the culprit is caught soon.

*sniffs the air*

MMM what is that wonderful smell?

She began to brag uncontrollably about how she happened to capture such a fine turtle, "I had approached the banks and sat by a tree patiently for almost 2 hours.". This mammoth of a turtle,at least in her eyes, considering her size..crawled up in a muddy area." I crawled slowly closer to him. The turtle was looking the opposite direction and I knew that the slightest vibration or noise would shake him up and he would be gone. I was about 6-7 feet when I pounced on his back. I slid off his shell and grabbed his tail. Damn tail was big, but it slipped out of my hands. I was sliding all over the mud with this massive creature and managed to grab his legs. He obviously didn't like me," as she began to laugh, "He tried to bite me and managed to graze the skin on my thigh, so I took a strong root that I had wrapped around my wrist and tossed it over his head...kinda like a leash." She thought things were going her way, until he took off into the water dragging her by the roots. Luckily the riverbank had many rocks and pond pebbles for her to gain some footing and pulled on the roots with all her might. The turtle slowed up as it began to choke. "I told this turtle that he should be honored that I would be making him the main course for the Inns menu. I dont think he cared for that and struggled some more...but he finally stopped moving." She pulled his lifeless carcass to the embankment and dropped on her knees..."I need to think about this kind of thing in the future"
She lay there in the mud for awhile and after fully resting, picked up the turtle and dropped him in the sack.

*Jericho practically stumbles through the tavern door. It is clear it is difficult for him to walk. Today he has a cane with him that is helping to keep him steady. He gets into the tavern but instead of walking all the way up to his normal spot at the bar. He allows himself to fall into a char at the closest table to the door. There are beads of sweat forming around the top of his head and he doesn't seem to be fully aware of his surroundings.*

*Alatariel sees Jericho enter the Inn but is scared to go to him. It is clear that he is unwell today and she is afraid if she touches him they will have another episode like the other night*

Calliope hears the door and peeks out from the kitchen. She sees Alatariel come in and following her was Jericho. She couldn't help but notice that Jericho was definitely not himself this early morning..

She yells from the kitchen, "Hi Alatariel, Good Morn Jericho, you smell the turtle soup in the kitchen that Boromir is cooking and I am helping with the carcass cleanup...I think I might use the shell in my cave as a table...perfect size for me...Ill just prop 4 rock together and put em upside down..." she begins to giggle slightly but sees Jericho in such discomfort that she quickly subdues her laugh.

*If Jericho had noticed any of the people in the bar when he had entered he didn't show it. He is swaying slightly in his chair as if trying to steady himself. It is quite obvious that he is pooling all of his energy to stay awake right now. He begins coughing but doesn't even seem to notice as a bit of blood trickles out of his mouth. As he is coughing the ring on his finger flashes a dark blood red quickly and Jericho jerks up as if he is suddenly in pain. When the rings glow fades away again Jericho slumps forward onto the table. It is hard to tell if he is still conscious.*

MMM sounds delicious Calliope. Wow it was that big huh?

Calliope hears coughing and comes out the kitchen.."Jericho" as she scampers over to a table he that is not his usual. She pulls the cloth off her clothing she had been wearing in the kitchen and wipes the blood from his mouth. "My dear friend, I have not the magic nor the answer to your plight, but I would gladly keep you cleaned up to maintain your dignity"

*hurriedly rushes to Jericho*

*wants to help him so bad but is scared to touch him*

*her hands are already burning with the magic flowing through her*

*notices the ring*

What is that on his finger Calliope?

It seems to be the cause of his distress.

*When Calliope reaches him it is clear he is unconscious. He gives no idication of hearing anything she said.*

Where is that Rathil when you really need him around?

"He was given that ring by an evil traveler yesterday and without considering the possibility of its powers, placed it on his finger. The evil one with super powers laughed and told him that all his energy would slowly be taken from him. Jericho cannot remove the ring. I believe it was Re'Anna or somebody who told him that she knew of a way but would need to find someone. He actually considered severing his finger to remove it"

well who do we need to find?

it is killing him?

and if i touch him right now god i can only imagine what would happen.

My good friend Esther the Gray is very well versed in the ways of the Ishtar curse, *Rathil says as he walks out of the back room. Calliope who was recently bacly there knows he wasn't there but a short time ago.*

Jericho here is in a worse position than most. The ring is not designed to kill. It isn't even designed to work this fast. The problem good Jericho here is having is that the ring is weakening his bodies defenses and destroying all the hard work you put into healing him. The disease is coming back as strong if not stronger than it had before. Perhaps this will be a lessen to him for next time to not play around with magical items he does not understand. Assuming there is a next time that is.

*it is clear that Alatariel does not like this news*


The damn fool. I should of never left last night.

Truer words may not have been spoken. A damn fool he is. I thought I had taught him better of the perils of some magic items. However he let his curiousity get the better of him. I can't say I blame him too much however. When I first started my adventuring days I ran into my fair share of magical items and some of them almost killed me out of inexperience as well. If he makes it out of this alive he will have learned a valuable lesson that will only help to better him. If he doesn't, well then he also won't have to worry about making this same mistake again.

*turns her back to Rathil to wipe her tears that have started to flow down her face.*

I will pray that he makes it to be a thorn in your side for the rest of your days then.